Wireless headset and battery status indication method thereof

ABSTRACT

An enhanced wireless headset and battery status indication method is provided for indicating an accurate battery level of a wireless headset. A battery status indication method for a wireless headset determines a residual charge of a battery of the wireless headset and emits light having one of a plurality of colors from a status indication unit of the wireless headset. Each of the plurality of colors indicates a different residual charge of the battery. The wireless headset and battery status indication method also enables indicating whether the wireless headset is operating in charging mode by maintaining or blinking the battery status indication light. In addition, the wireless headset and battery status indication method enables indicating a radio communication status as well as a battery status by blinking the battery status indication light in correspondence with a communication radio scanning cycle.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Koreanpatent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onNov. 26, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 10-2007-0120662, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wireless headset. More particularly,the present invention relates to an enhanced wireless headset andbattery status indication method for the wireless headset.

2. Description of the Related Art

The trend of integration of various functions and technologies intomobile phones has promoted peripheral device and accessory markets. Inparticular, with the integration of a short range wireless communicationtechnology, such as Bluetooth, and multimedia functions into the mobiledevice, the wireless headset is becoming an increasingly popularperipheral device.

Typically, the wireless headset is battery-powered due to its wirelessfeature, whereby battery status monitoring is used for safe and reliableuse of the wireless headset. However, the wireless headset is limited insize and therefore is not typically implemented with a sophisticatedindication display unit. For this reason, most wireless headsets use alight emission device such as Light Emitting Diode (LED) for indicatingbattery charging status and radio status.

However, the conventional LED battery status indicator cannot indicatethe residual battery charge. Instead, the conventional LED batterystatus indicator only indicates a low battery state, resulting in a deadbattery and frustration to the user. In addition, since the currentbattery level is not able to be determined, the user frequently chargesthe battery regardless of the current battery level, resulting ininconvenience to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide an enhanced wireless headset and battery statusindication method for the wireless headset that is capable of displayingaccurate current battery level.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an enhancedwireless headset and battery status indication method thereof that iscapable of indicating whether the wireless headset is operating in acharging mode or an non-charging mode by continuing or blinking abattery status indication light.

Further, another aspect of the present invention is to provide anenhanced wireless headset and battery status indication method thereofthat is capable of indicating a radio communication status as well as abattery status.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, abattery status indication method for a wireless headset is provided. Themethod includes determining a residual charge of a battery of thewireless headset and emitting light having one of a plurality of colorsfrom a status indication unit of the wireless headset, wherein each ofthe plurality of colors indicate a different residual charge of thebattery.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, a wireless headset is provided. The method includes awireless communication unit for establishing a short range wirelesscommunication link with an external device, a control unit forcontrolling the wireless communication with the external device and fordetermining a residual battery charge of the wireless headset, and astatus indication unit including a first light emitting device foremitting one of a plurality of colors of light based on a result of thedetermination of the residual battery charge, wherein each of theplurality of colors corresponds to a different residual battery charge.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wirelessheadset according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the wireless headset of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a battery status indication methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wirelessheadset according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the wireless headset of FIG.4.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructionsare omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by theinventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of theinvention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in theart that the following description of exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not forthe purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wirelessheadset according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the wireless headset ofFIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the wireless headset 10 includes a controlunit 11, a key input unit 12, a wireless communication unit 13, an audioprocessing unit 14, a battery 15, a status indication unit 16, and apower connector 17, housed in a casing 18.

The casing 18 may be contoured to be worn on an ear and may include anear bud 18 a for insertion into an ear canal and a supporting part 18 bfrom which the ear bud 18 a may protrude. When the wireless headset 10is worn by a user, supporting part 18 b may supportably contact an earrim. The ear bud 18 a may include a speaker 14 a which is electricallyconnected to the audio processing unit 14. The supporting part 18 b mayinclude a microphone 14 b which may be electrically connected to theaudio processing unit 14.

The control unit 11 may be a microprocessor for controlling operationsof the wireless headset 10. The control unit 11 may controlcommunication with a portable device and a battery status indicationdisplay. The battery status may show a residual battery level and a lowbattery state.

The key input unit 12 may be provided with one or more keys 12 a formanipulating the wireless headset 10 and may send a key signal generatedby key selection to the control unit 11. The one or more keys 12 a ofthe key input unit 12 may be mounted on an external surface of thesupporting part 18 b.

The wireless communication unit 13 may be responsible for wirelesscommunication with an external device supporting the same communicationprotocol as that utilized by the wireless headset 10. The wirelesscommunication unit 13 may scan external devices periodically and mayperform pairing with the external devices within scanning range underthe control of the control unit 11. After being paired with a device,the wireless communication unit 13 may perform scanning periodically.

The audio processing unit 14 may process the audio signal received fromthe control unit 11 and may output the processed audio signal throughthe speaker 14 a in the form of audible sound wave. The audio processingunit 14 may also process the sound wave input through the microphone 14b and may output the processed sound wave to the control unit 11 in theform of an audio signal.

The battery 15 may supply power to one or more of the internal elementsof the wireless headset 10 and may be connected to a power source viathe power connector 17 to be charged. At this time, the control unit 11can monitor the battery charging status.

The status indication unit 16 may be provided with a light emittingdevice 16 a emitting at least three different colors of light forindicating battery status and radio status. The light emitting device 16a may be mounted so as to be exposed outside the casing 18 such that thelight emitted by the light emitting device 16 a catches a user'sattention. Accordingly, the user can determine the current batterystatus and radio status based on the color of light emitted by the lightemitting device 16 a. For this purpose, the light emitting device 16 amay be mounted on a wall of the casing 18 opposed to the supporting part18 b.

The light emitting device 16 a can be implemented with Light EmittingDiodes (LEDs). The light emitting device 16 a can be implemented withtwo single color LEDs emitting different colors of light or one threecolor LED which can emit three different colors of light. In the formercase, the two single color LEDs may emit different colors of light usingindirect illumination such that, when the two single color LEDs turn onsimultaneously, a third color light is emitted. In the latter case, eachof the three colors LED may be implemented by combining two differentcolor LEDs such that, each two color LED can emit two different colorsof light and, when two of the two color LEDs turn on, a combined colorof light is emitted that is another color of light. When using the threecolor emitting LEDs, the light emitting device 16 a can be implementedvia indirect or direct illumination.

For example, the status indication unit 16 can be implemented with anytwo of blue, red, and green light emitting devices. In a case of usingblue and red light emitting devices, a purplish red light can begenerated by turning on the blue and red light emitting devicessimultaneously. In a case of using red and green light emitting devices,turning on the red and green light emitting devices emits a yellow colorlight. In the same manner, a combination of the blue and green lightemitting devices can generate a bluish green light. These combined colorlights are emitted when the two light emitting devices are controlled toemit lights at the same brightness. Accordingly, various color lightscan be expressed by controlling the respective brightness of the lightsemitted by the two different color lights emitting devices.

More particularly, the control unit 11 checks the residual charge of thebattery 15 and controls the status indication unit 16 to emit a color oflight corresponding to the current residual battery charge. That is, thestatus indication unit 16 is configured to emit different colors oflight that may be matched to the residual battery levels.

The control unit 11 can control such that, when the power connector 17is connected to the power source, the light emitting device 16 a may beswitched on or switched on and off for indicating the battery chargingstatus.

The control unit 11 may control such that the light emitting device 16 alights up or switches on and off for indicating a battery chargingstatus. In a case where an external power supply is detected, thecontrol unit 11 may control the light emitting device 16 a to light upto inform the user of the battery charging status. When no externalpower supply is detected, the control unit 11 may control the lightemitting device 16 a to switch on and off to indicate a non-chargingstatus. A non-charging status refers to state where the wireless headset10 consumes battery power.

The control unit 11 may also control such that light emitting device 16a indicates the current radio status of the wireless communication unit13. When the wireless headset 10 is in a non-charging mode, the controlunit 11 may control such that the light emitting device 16 a switches onan off, i.e. blinks the light, in correspondence with the radio scanningcycle of the wireless communication unit 13.

Table 1 shows the light emission patterns of the status indication unit16. In this exemplary embodiment, the status indication unit 16 may beimplemented with a light emitting device 16 a that is capable ofemitting blue, red, and purplish red lights.

TABLE 1 Battery level Non-charging mode Charging mode High Blink bluelight Blue light Middle Blink purplish red light Purplish red light LowBlink red light Red light

Although the battery status indication device is described inassociation with a wireless mono headset as depicted in FIG. 2, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. For example, the batterystatus indication device can be applied to a wireless stereo headset orthe like. A battery status indication method operating with theabove-described wireless headset is described hereinafter with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a battery status indication methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 11 of the wireless headset 10 maymonitor to detect whether the power connector 17 is connected to anexternal power source in step S51. If the power connector 17 isconnected to an external power source, then the control unit 11 maycontrol such that the battery 15 may be charged with power supplied bythe external power source in step S53. The battery 15 can be configuredto be charged under the control of the control unit 11 or automaticallywhen the power connector 17 is connected to the external power source.

If the battery is being charged, the control unit 11 may check thecharge battery level in step S55 and may control such that the statusindication unit 16 may switch on the light emitting device 16 a to emita color of light corresponding to the current battery charge level instep S57. For example, the control unit 11 may switch on the lightemitting device 16 a to emit the red light for indicating the lowbattery charge level, the purplish red light for indicating the middlebattery charge level, and the blue light for indicating the full batterycharge.

If the power connector 17 is not connected to an external power source,then the control unit 11 may check the residual battery level in stepS59 and may control such that the status indication unit 16 may switchon and off the light emitting device 16 a to blink a color lightcorresponding to the current residual battery level in step S61.

At step S61, as the residual battery level decreases, the control unit11 may control such that the light emitting device 16 a may change thecolor of light to match the current residual battery level. In order todistinguish the non-charging mode from the charging mode, the controlunit 11 may control such that the light emitted from the light emittingdevice 16 a blinks. For example, the control unit 11 may switch on anoff the light emitting device 16 a to blink the red light for indicatingthe low residual battery level, the purplish red light for indicatingthe middle residual battery level, and the blue light for indicating thehigh residual battery level.

The control unit 11 may also control such that the status indicationunit 16 may display the radio status of the wireless communication unit13 together with the residual battery status. In this case, the controlunit 11 may control such that the light emitted by the light emittingdevice 16 a may blink in correspondence with the radio scanning cycle ofthe wireless communication unit 13.

Although the battery status indication method according to thisexemplary embodiment is configured to indicate the battery status andradio status using a single light emitting device, the present inventionis not limited thereto. For example, the status indication unit 16 canbe implemented with two or more light emitting devices for indicatingthe battery status and radio status, respectively.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a wirelessheadset according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the wirelessheadset of FIG. 4.

The structures of the wireless headset are similar to those of thewireless headset 100 depicted in FIG. 1 except that the statusindication unit 116 is provided with two light emitting devices 116 aand 116 b. Accordingly, the description will be focused on the structureand function of the status indication unit 116.

illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the wireless headset 110 includes acontrol unit 111, a key input unit 112, a wireless communication unit113, an audio processing unit 114, a battery 115, a status indicationunit 116, and a power connector 117 housed in a casing 118. The audioprocessing unit 114 includes a speaker 114 a and a microphone 114 b. Thekey input unit 112 may be provided with one or more keys 112 a formanipulating the wireless headset 110.

More particularly in this exemplary embodiment, the status indication116 is provided with a first light emitting device 116 a for indicatingthe battery status and a second light emitting device 116 b forindicating the radio status. The first and second light emitting devices116 a and 116 b can be implemented with LEDs.

The first light emitting device 116 a can be implemented with at leasttwo LEDs each emitting a single color of light or one two color LEDwhich can emit three different color lights. That is, the first lightemitting device 116 a is similar to the light emitting device 16 a ofFIG. 1 except that it is not configured to indicate the radio status ofthe wireless communication unit.

The control unit 111 may control such that the first light emittingdevice 116 a may emit light constantly in the non-charging mode and mayblink in the charging mode.

The second light emitting device 116 b can be implemented with an LEDemitting at least one color of light. The control unit 11 may controlsuch that the second light emitting device 116 b blinks incorrespondence with the scanning cycle of the wireless communicationunit 113.

The first and second light emitting devices 116 a and 116 b may bedisposed to be exposed outside the casing 118. In this exemplaryembodiment, the first and second light emitting devices 116 a and 116 bmay be disposed on different walls of the casing 118. That is, thesecond light emitting device 116 b may be mounted on a wall that opposesthe supporting part 118 b from which the ear bud is protruded, and thefirst light emitting device 116 a may be mounted on a wall connectingthe supporting part 118 b and the wall opposing to the supporting part118 b. The first and second light emitting devices 116 a and 116 b maybe disposed on different walls of the casing 118 for preventingconfusion between battery status indication and radio status indication.

Although the first and second light emitting devices 116 a and 116 b aredepicted on different walls of the casing 118 in FIG. 5, the positionsof the light emitting devices are not limited thereto. For example, thefirst and second light emitting devices can be installed on the samewall of the casing.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainexemplary embodiments thereof, it will understood by those skilled inthe art that that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

As described above, the wireless headset and battery status indicationmethod thereof enables simultaneous indication of a battery status andwhether the wireless headset is operating in charging mode.

Also, the wireless headset and battery status indication method thereofcontrol the blinking of the battery status indication light incorrespondence with radio scanning cycle of the wireless communicationunit, thereby indicating the radio status as well as the battery status.

1. A battery status indication method for a wireless headset, the methodcomprising: determining a residual charge of a battery of the wirelessheadset; and emitting light having one of a plurality of colors from astatus indication unit of the wireless headset, wherein each of theplurality of colors indicates a different residual charge of thebattery.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indication unitcomprises a first light emitting device that includes at least two lightemitters that emit different colors of light.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein each of the plurality of colors of light is generated bycombining the light emitted by at least one of the at least two lightemitters.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indication unitcomprises a first light emitting device that includes one light emitterthat emits at least three different colors of light.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the emitting of the light comprises one of maintainingemission of the light and blinking of the light.
 6. The method of claim5, wherein the emitting of the light comprises maintaining the emissionof the light when the battery is coupled to an external power source. 7.The method of claim 5, wherein the emitting of the light comprises theblinking the light when the battery is not coupled to an external powersource.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the blinking of the lightcorresponds to a radio scanning cycle of a wireless communication of thewireless headset.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the statusindication unit comprises a first light emitting device for emitting thelight to indicate the residual charge of the battery, and wherein thestatus indication unit comprises a second light emitting device foremitting light to indicate a radio status of the wireless headset.
 10. Awireless headset, the headset comprising: a wireless communication unitfor establishing a short range wireless communication link with anexternal device; a control unit for controlling the wirelesscommunication with the external device and for determining a residualbattery charge of the wireless headset; and a status indication unitincluding a first light emitting device for emitting one of a pluralityof colors of light based on a result of the determination of theresidual battery charge, wherein each of the plurality of colorscorresponds to a different residual battery charge.
 11. The headset ofclaim 10, wherein the first light emitting device comprises at least twolight emitters that emit different colors of light.
 12. The headset ofclaim 11, wherein the first light emitting device emits one of a firstcolor of light generated by one light emitter, a second color of lightgenerated by the other light emitter, and a third color of lightgenerated by combining the first and second colors of light.
 13. Theheadset of claim 10, wherein the first light emitting device comprisesone light emitter that emits at least three different colors of light.14. The headset of claim 10, wherein the control unit controls thestatus indication unit to maintain and blink the light emitted by thefirst light emitting device.
 15. The headset of claim 14, wherein thecontrol unit controls the status indication unit to maintain emission ofthe light emitted by the first light emitting device when the wirelessheadset is electrically coupled to an external power source.
 16. Theheadset of claim 14, wherein the control unit controls the statusindication unit to blink the light emitted by the first light emittingdevice when the wireless headset is not electrically coupled to anexternal power source.
 17. The headset of claim 16, wherein the controlunit controls the status indication unit to blinks the light incorrespondence with a radio scanning cycle of the wireless communicationunit.
 18. The headset of claim 10, wherein the status indication unitfurther comprises a second light emitting device for indicating a radiostatus of the wireless communication unit.